Tashi Farmilo
LJI reporter
The Canadian government has pledged $12.5 million to strengthen community media serving French and English-speaking minorities across the country. Announced by Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development, and Official Languages, the funding is part of Canada’s 2023-2028 Action Plan for Official Languages, aimed at preserving linguistic and cultural identities in minority communities.
Of the total, $7.6 million will support 89 new projects over four years, enabling these media outlets to continue providing essential local news. An additional $5 million will fund 125 paid internships across 98 organisations, bridging a critical workforce gap and equipping young journalists with hands-on experience.
“Community media are the heart of Canada’s minority communities,” said Boissonnault, affectionately dubbed “Mr. Good News” for championing initiatives to strengthen Canada’s linguistic duality. “They tell local stories, preserve our diverse identities, and ensure Canadians from coast to coast have access to information in their chosen language.”
The announcement, held in Ottawa, featured prominent voices in Canadian media and government. Marie-France Lalonde, MP for Orleans, highlighted the impact on her community, noting that “local media allow us to live, study, and work in our official languages.”
Brenda O’Farrell, President of the Quebec Community Newspapers Association, stressed the indispensable role community outlets play in capturing stories often overlooked by larger media. “We are the boots on the ground, the eyes and ears in every community,” she said. O’Farrell highlighted that, unlike mainstream outlets, local media are deeply rooted in their communities, covering everyday stories that resonate with their audiences. “As big media pull back, community media step up, making sure that Canadians across the country have access to news that matters to them,” she added, expressing optimism that the funding would bolster these vital connections.
The funding comes amid a challenging landscape for minority-language media as they face competition from larger outlets. “This support ensures that our media remain deeply rooted and vital in their communities,” said Linda Lauzon, representing the Consortium of Official Language Minority Media, who praised the government’s commitment.
Boissonnault closed by stressing that this funding is an investment in Canada’s national heritage, saying, “Supporting local media preserves our collective memory and ensures that all Canadians, regardless of language, remain connected to our identity and heritage.”
Photo: The Canadian government’s $12.5 million investment in minority-language media, announced by Minister Randy Boissonnault, aims to strengthen local outlets, with leaders like Brenda O’Farrell of the Quebec Community Newspapers Association emphasising that these community-based organisations serve as the essential “boots on the ground” for stories often overlooked by mainstream media. (TF) Photo: Tashi Farmilo